Item: Martin D18 1943 Prewar Guitar
Sold For: $7,000.00
Bids: 26
Date: Jun 12, 2012
Auction: Ebay
Seller: jonru
Description and Image By: jonru
Here for your consideration is a very scarce guitar indeed: a 1943 Martin D18. Classic since its introduction in the early 30s. From Elvis Presley to Bill Monroe the D18 has been a wildly popular guitar. As you may know, the specifications of Martin top braces changed after 1944. Typically described as “Pre War Bracing”, the earlier instruments with the famous ” scalloped bracing” are far more desireable and sound considerably better than the later ones. They say the good ones get played, and clearly this one has been played extensively THIS IS NOT A REISSUE , THIS IS A GENUINE VINTAGE 1943 MARTIN D18! Serial number is 86356. Has a huge resonant bottom end. A powerful sounding instrument. It does have a substantial amount of playing wear, and also needs some work. Let me be clear: The neck needs to be reset. No cracks in the neck. Some genius luthier has inlayed little abalone Maltese crosses ( or whatever they are) , not only where the original dots were located, but at additiional frets as well. An Oversized pickguard has been installed long ago, , probably to hide pickwear.
If I were keeping this guitar, I would have a replacement fretboard put on , with original style dot inlays. The back of the neck has been oversprayed . The finish on the body is original, though worn. The top is not close to perfectly flat; it has some distortion that is difficult to photograph. The original tuners have been replaced with Grover rotomatics. There are several body cracks and a couple of screwholes from former strap pegs. The current value of a Good condition 1943 D18 is $20,000 – $25,000 . I recently saw a 1935 D18 advertised for $60,000!